Pickups Archives - Page 5

Ernie Ball/Music Man has unveiled a new patent-pending pickup switching system called the Game Changer that will be available on their Reflex HH bass. By choosing the coils in any order, whether they are in series or parallel, and whether they are in or out of phase, the system allows for 250,000 pickup combinations without rewiring, digitizing, or remodeling. A...

Nordstrand Pickups has released the NM4, a replacement pickup for the Fender Mustang Bass. The pickup is a direct replacement size for the original and utilizes Nordstrand’s angled pole piece technology. The company claims that this “tiny pickup” is designed to produce a fat full tone from a Mustang, which is a short scale bass. The package does not include...

There are a number of variables to consider in the search for your ideal tone. To date, we have discussed options relative to amplification. Key among the variables that impact bass tone is pickups thus this column concentrates on pickups. While there are many things that contribute to the timbre and tone of your bass (tone woods, strings, etc), pickups...

Sheptone is stepping into the world of electric bass pickups, beginning with a new line of P-Bass pickups. The new models are made for Fender Precision basses and similar models, and are made to vintage specifications, utilizing alnico 5 magnets and #42 plain enamel wire while measuring out to 10.3k. All the pickups are made in the U.S. at Sheptone’s...

Aguilar Amplification has unveiled their newest pickup set: the AG 5J-60. The pickups are made to bring the tone of a 60’s era Fender Jazz to modern 5-string basses using all period correct components, including Heavy Formvar wire and Anico V magnets. The AG 5J-60 set is made to be a direct replacement in the Fender Jazz V as well...

Q: I’m just getting back into the bass and there’s something I’ve always been curious about: the differences (as well as the different kinds) of passive vs. active circuitry. What are the main differences between them, why are there only active and passive circuits, and what does it mean to have either in a bass? A: Although I am not...

EMG has released Jazz bass versions of their X series pickups: the JX, JAX, and JVX sets. The brand’s X-Series is made to provide increased headroom, giving the voicing an organic and open tone while keeping great clarity and response. EMG describes them as “bridging the gap between passive and active tone.” The JX retains the jazz bass tone while...

Recently I got a series of questions from a upright bass player in Norway regarding amplification of the double bass and the use of electronic effects (EFX). Since I get these sorts of questions often, I thought I would print some of my thoughts here as part of the lowdown. If you have your own questions, feel free to send...

Aguilar Amplification has just announced the first in their new line of bass pickups, the AG-4J pick up. The AG-4J is a single-coil pickup, modeled after a mid-60’s single coil Jazz bass pickup, built using Heavy Formvar wire and Alnico V magnets. Aguilar says they’ve developed a proprietary winding pattern to give these pickups string-to-string consistency, and to match their...

The new P-Retro from East UK is a P-bass style active/passive preamp equalizer that is be installed without permanently modifying your bass. The P-Retro fits in easily, and uses screw terminals, so no soldering is necessary. Therefore, no physical modifications to your bass are required. The P-Retro features two stacked knobs with pull switches on each. The regular volume control...